Punjab Governor announces remission for prisoners

Chandigarh, Jan 18 (UNI) Ahead of the Republic Day, Punjab Governor and Administrator UT, Chandigarh, General (Retd) S F Rodrigues has awarded special remission to the prisoners of different class.

UT Home Secretary Krishna Mohan disclosed here today that the remission had been granted to reward and encourage good behaviour among the convicts and to get them into the mainstream.

Mr Mohan said the relief for the prisoners had been given in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

This remission would be applicable for prisoners, who were convicted by the Courts of criminal jurisdiction, including special courts in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and confined in the model jail, Chandigarh or in any other jail on January one this year.

Prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for more than ten years or for life, would be awarded a remission of one year. Prisoners, undergoing sentence of more than five years and up to 10 years would be granted a remission of eight months, he added.

Inmates, undergoing sentence of more than two years and up to five years and prisoners undergoing sentence of less than two years, would be awarded remissions for four months and two months respectively, he mentioned.

Mr Mohan also revealed that certain categories of prisoners, would not be entitled for the remission, including prisoners not falling under the above mentioned classes, detoenuess of any class, convicts sentenced under the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act,Pakistan nationals and military personnel.

The remission would also not be applicable for those convicted under Section 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 of the Official Secrets Act, Section 2 and 3 of the Criminal law (Amendment) Act and Section 121 to 130 of the Indian Penal Code.

People, imprisoned for failing to give security for keeping the plea or for their good behaviuor under section 107/109 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and prisoners, undergoing imprisonment in default of payment of fine would not be considered for the remission.

Likewise, prisoners sentenced in rape cases, prisoners whose conduct in jail or on parole had not been satisfactory and prisoners convicted under the NDPS Act would also be not entitled for the remission.

This remission, however, would not be admissible to the prisoners of other states lodged in Model Jail, Chandigarh. This remission would also not be admissible to those prisoners, who have been awarded death sentence, he noted.